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That's right! We get GDA! We are the place to be! CUP is where things happen and not your loser little club. Sadly we have to share GDA with some other loosers from kings hummer, their pretty worthless. And not sure how us soccer picked them but we have to deal with them. Players will come to CUP in flocks because we have it all GDA and good talent and coaches. Kings hummer would be left with the bottom of the barrel and eventually we'll get rd of them to keep GDA and good taller to ourselves.

My daughter did play for CU from U8 - U11. They do take players from outside of the club for CUP. But they also show favoritism to certain families. I do get a kick out of seeing "lower" CU teams beat the top teams. There are several CUP Gold teams that thrive and now they have North I. Unless your child can make Gold (some age groups Black) or the top CUP I team for 05 and younger, there is no point in paying the extra $$$$. The 2nd, third and sometimes even 4th CUP teams are not playing at any higher of a level than the top two teams at smaller clubs. It is about finding the team that will develop your player the best. Playing at a club solely for the name is not a smart move.

We left CU because of the age group shake up; a few were playing CUP, a few were going to CUSE, CULM and CU SYC/Mason wasn't going to have a team. We went to tryouts for other clubs to see what was out there. My daughter thrives at her new club and is enjoying soccer again. I know several parents who removed themselves from the CUP cult and their children are happy playing the sport again.

Well, now it's not just about CUP. Both, girls and boys sides got DA now, so on top of CUP, now there're DA teams, which attracts even more players. It is pretty much a monopoly for CU/CUP here, as every child who can play ends up with them sooner or later. Good or bad, I don't know.

My daughter did play for CU from U8 - U11. They do take players from outside of the club for CUP. But they also show favoritism to certain families. I do get a kick out of seeing "lower" CU teams beat the top teams. There are several CUP Gold teams that thrive and now they have North I. Unless your child can make Gold (some age groups Black) or the top CUP I team for 05 and younger, there is no point in paying the extra $$$$. The 2nd, third and sometimes even 4th CUP teams are not playing at any higher of a level than the top two teams at smaller clubs. It is about finding the team that will develop your player the best. Playing at a club solely for the name is not a smart move.

We left CU because of the age group shake up; a few were playing CUP, a few were going to CUSE, CULM and CU SYC/Mason wasn't going to have a team. We went to tryouts for other clubs to see what was out there. My daughter thrives at her new club and is enjoying soccer again. I know several parents who removed themselves from the CUP cult and their children are happy playing the sport again.

You're 100% accurate in stating "It is about finding the team that will develop your player the best." I might also add "find(ing) a team (or club) where your child is happy." A happy kid will almost always play better and will look forward to going to training and games. In short, they'll be a better player.

I don't know what your new kid's club is but you've got to keep in mind that while a kid may initially be happy at a club, that can change. Plenty of kids are happy at CU/CUP, others hate it. The same is true for Kings Hammer, Ohio Elite, Warren County, or any other club. Monitor your kid closely. Ask questions. If your kids are like mine are, you'll pretty easily be able to determine if they're having a good time or not. However, two of my kids read like a book while the other one reads like a novel with a few twists. I think I have her figured out but there is a hidden story. That is where the talking comes in.

You did mention the "CUP cult." Just be aware that there is also an Ohio Elite cult, Kings Hammer cult, etc. Most kids will immediately love the new club. After the "honeymoon period" is over, new problems might emerge. OE is a good example. Many love the club. There is a certain DOC there that has the initials of "Doug Bracken." Doug will kiss up to kids that he is trying to court from other clubs while not always taking care of what he has. He'll make promises of playing time, ID2 camps, ECNL events, etc, just to get a kid to move to OE. He is also known for propping players up that don't deserve it. This is seen as his players not always being the most successful in college. He's had some success stories but often his players don't transition well beyond HS. He isn't a great trainer, doesn't know the game nearly as well as he thinks he does, and college coaches don't necessarily care for him. They find him to be arrogant, abrasive, and, in general, a *****. If you are at OE, be aware of that and good luck. If he likes a kid and the parents, he'll bend over backward to help them whether they deserve it or not. If he doesn't like a kid or the parents, he'll crap on them whether they deserve it or not. There are others at other clubs, though, that are similar to Doug. Doug, though, just isn't a standard-bearer for the game. He isn't a great ambassador for the sport.

Note: we had a good experience but I've seen many that were treated poorly.

QUOTE=Unregistered;2120278]Well, now it's not just about CUP. Both, girls and boys sides got DA now, so on top of CUP, now there're DA teams, which attracts even more players. It is pretty much a monopoly for CU/CUP here, as every child who can play ends up with them sooner or later. Good or bad, I don't know.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't say that CU/CUP has a monopoly. There is also Kings Hammer and Ohio Elite. Both clubs are big enough to make an impact. CU/CUP and KHA are now somewhat "married", though, with the Academy partnership.

Any kid and the family, going to any club, needs to do due diligence. KNow what you're getting into.

I don't know anything about OE besides that they arguably have a very strong girls program. Why arguably? Well, I think it's because of the CUP/KHA partnership in the GDA. Not sure how many girls left OE because of the GDA opportunity. I know OE has a "thing" against DA, since they had the DA awhile back and lost it.

For the boys though, I strongly disagree... CU/CUP holds the monopoly in the boy's world. Nearly all talented boys end up with CUP and now DA. Who else has a strong boys program all around in this area? I can't think of anyone else, but CUP.

I am not a fan boy, actually the opposite - I, personally, do not like what CUP is doing to boys soccer in the area, but what other options are out there. Not many if you ask me.